Naperville prohibits video gaming

October 06, 2009

The Naperville City Council voted 7-0 tonight to prohibit video gaming.

Naperville's council voted to waive the first reading and to outright approve its ordinance opting out of Illinois' Video Gaming Act, which was enacted by state legislators in July to legalize video gaming outside of casinos in order to fund a large capital bill.

About 125 establishments in Naperville are eligible for the video gambling machines, which the state allows to be in any bar, restaurant, fraternal organization or veteran's organization holding a valid liquor license.

The council last month overrode a recommendation by the city's staff to table considering video gaming until Nov. 3 to allow for a 30-day public comment period and also to analyze the Illinois Gaming Commission emergency rules, which were released on Sept. 11.

Under the Video Gaming Act, the state will receive a 25 percent tax on video gaming revenues, while towns would receive a tax of 5 percent on gaming revenues generating inside their corporate limits.

No residents at the meeting spoke in favor of or in opposition to video gaming.